The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-08-04
CAR DRIVERS STRIKE.
THE CITIZENS C0XPANY IN.
vOLvRD In LABOR TROUBLES.
Secsnd Street Made Lively for q
Short Time Last Evening
The Demands.

rious lines In the city was held Mon.
day night, at which 1t was decided to
address q petition to the superinten-
dent asking for q reduction Of hours
or an increase Of wages. The drivers
say they are compelled TO work from
fifteen to twenty hours daily, and 70.
ceive from IL TO 13A cents per hour,
according to the time they have been
in the employment OF the company.
No definite action was taken ct the
meeting n ondsy night, but twelve Of
the eighteen m who were present
were discharged Tuesday. Tuesday
night, showever, another meeting was
hsld which was q tended by over fifty
Of the drivers. They met ct the
knights Of Labor hall, No. 266
Second street, and Q committee con-
sisting Of Messrs. Albert Perrin, q. II.
Cheek, J. 4. Campion and David
Bsrton was appointed to wait on
Superintendent Ralph Semmes and
demand that henceforth drivers should
BE- paid ct the rate OF q for twelve
hours work; all over time at the Same
rate, oil drivers TO receive the same
pay, and those discharged 10 DO REIN
stated. The COMMITTEES called on
supsrintenden Semmes yesterday
morning ct IL o'clock and were po-
litsly received. Mr.. Bemmts replied
that he would consider the demand
and give them an answer at 4 O'Clock
In the afternoon.
Wien the appointed hour arrived
the committee wss informed by the
superintendent that the demand
could not and would not DO conceded,
whereupon the following card was dis.
tributed 10 the drivers by men sta
tionsd at various street crossings:
TURN CAR IN
aud report to
X. OF l.. HALL. 25s SECOND STREET.
tssppiATGLr.
By Order Of Committee.
II was an hour or more after the
dislribudon Of the above card before
la effect became apparent. About 7
o'clock pm, q group OF striking driv-
ers congregsted on the corner OF Sec
ond and North Court streets, In front
OF the KuiRhts OF Labor Hall. No
display OF violence was shown, or
even the dispoailion TO indulge II
Their appearance, however, and the
knowledge that strike was In prog
ress, attracted men aud boys from
every quarter. and soon the small
group increased TO small army. Po-
lice Off ,efs put In az appearance and
commanded them TO keep quiet aud
not block up the side walk or streets,
which they promptly obeyed. Ere
long they were joined by other sthk-
ing drivers who Dad turned their cars
into the stables, oulsiders had twArmed
about, and by 8 o'clock the street "a
front Of headquarters vas thronged.
Az the cara came along on their way
10 the stables, they were boarded by
strikers and sympathixsrs who
urged the driven 10 Join
hsm. Upon their promise TO
do %, they we're permitted 10 proceed
unmolssted, while stouts OF pleasure
and delight went up from the throsts
OF the crowd. Not 30 with those on
the outward trip, however. These
were driven by men who had refused
70 Join the striko or green hands.
They were halted, the mules changed
10 move la the opposite direc ion, and
the man In charge seemed oveijoyed
that he should DC allowed 10 proceed
at ell. One Of the yellow cars Of the
Second street line was placed across
both uacks, checking travel In either
direction. About this time the police
appeared, q green driver was place
aboard by the Toad'e officers, and tho
car Was ysnksd toward Chelsea at a
lively rats, with utter disregard 70 the
consequences. The good will OF the
crowd wss manifested by loud and
prolonged hieses, bot no active form Of
violence assumed shape.
From there tue drivers went 10 The
transfer station, corner OF Madison
and Second, and began the process VI
stopping travel over the lines passing
that point similar 10 tat practiced NJ
Moth Cour, and Second. Fora while
no car Was allowed 10 paS la o
northerly or eastefly direction, and =
number OF the green men, who
attempted 10 oil the places OF the
striker, halted the cas- al the stable
on fernando street and deserted.
The active railroad ofiioals were on
hand, bowevor, and seemingly en-.
couniered little difheul,y In securing
others City police were detailed 10
guard cars aud drivers, aud In per.
Torrance Of this duty arrested three
Of the strikers, named q. w. Cora.
Charles Psndent and ID. W. Benton,
also . sympsihirlpg printer, Charles
n. Bryan.
News Was received al the Station
House by telephone, about 10 o'clock,
that In Chelsea violence was beginning
10 crop out. Either the strikers or
their warm outside supporters un.
hitshsd the mules from cara, cut the
harness and drove the animals away.
A driver named Norwood, who 10.
fused 10 quit work, was struck on the
head by q thrown brick and painfully
injured. Oapt. 0'Haver and 0fiiceI
Wolf hurried 10 that quarter II the
city, but upon arrival iound no dis.
turbance. Three cars were not In
their usual position, but no one va,
around 10 answer for the ofiense
Eysrythlng appeared quiet and the
oAices returned.
Between 10 and II O'Clock the
crowd that stirred up the excitement
on Second street dispereed, aud nc
one who CHANGED 10 pass along Oh,
thorouehiar. ~ the time would hsy,
known that any thing unusual hat
occurred, save for the almost entire
absence OF street cara. Toe trouble
did not extend 70 tbs Memphis Ciiy
Railway Oompapy's line, but Il wa,
Tepor ed that all the dfiyeis Of the
city would BE- diasn into II. Ailei
comparative order on tbs stree. lad
b,en res ored, the driven assembled
Ia X. Of l. bail, but the alim atten.
dance puvented anything like
formal proceedings until near the
midnight hour